Sorry for the clickbait title but I couldn’t believe my luck when I captured our kitty yawning fiercely with his lion’s mane. He really does look like a mini predator, don’t you think?

In truth, he wouldn’t harm a fly. Well, he likes to chase flies but he’s too lazy to do more than that!

Ever since the trend picked up online, I’ve wanted to try out a lion main halloween costumes for cats. Of course, this costume works best if you have an orange or tabby cat since the mane is orange and brown itself. Luckily, we have a perfectly suitable cat! Our boy Poki is a tabby Siberian Forest cat with long hair.

We thought he looked a bit a lion even without the hat, so how fun would it be to bring out his wild side for a quick Halloween photoshoot?

My Review of the Lion Halloween Costume for Cats

Buying things online can be a bit of a gamble – especially when it comes to Halloween costumes for pets. I usually expect costumes to be low quality, so I thought it would be useful to share my thoughts on the particular lion mane costume I purchased. No this isn’t sponsored (sadly) and I bought the costume with my own money.

This lion mane cat hat comes in one size, which is on the large side so I think it should fit most adult cats and small dogs. In fact, the manufacturer states that it can fit most animals up to 15lbs. It fastens with velcro under the chin so there is some level of adjustability.

If your kitty is afraid of velcro sounds, however, it will be a problem (my girl hates it but she is scared of everything)

Because Poki has long hair, it’s hard to tell where his fur ends and the mane begins, so it looks very realistic! Just make sure to tuck your cat’s ears under the hat, if he doesn’t mind. If you don’t, you’ll end up with a mutant, four-eared lion kitty (which could be great for Halloween too!).

A Few Precautions

I have mentioned in previous posts that cats generally do not like wearing hats or having things on their heads. So this lion mane hat is something you should only use for a few minutes to get that cute Instagram shot.

Please pay close attention to your cat when you are dressing him up and never leave him unsupervised. The hat can easily slip and cover his eyes, leading to accidents.

Ideally, you should carry out your cat photoshoots indoors, or somewhere your can’t won’t run away. Costumes can get caught on trees and fences. If you must get that outdoor shot, consider using a leash.

Some cats like to lick or eat the fluff on costumes. Perhaps they’re trying to groom it? Don’t let your cat do this with the lion’s mane as swallowing the fur can be dangerous.

With Halloween coming up, I thought I’d share some cute costume ideas for cats. Before you cry cruelty – don’t worry. My cat model (Poki) is the most chill dude I’ve ever met. Not only does he not mind wearing the costumes for a photoshoot a few minutes long, he seems to love the attention. That said, I’ll be sharing some tips to make dressing up a fun and safe experience for your pet later on.

So, I went on a little shopping spree and got a bit carried away. The first one I want to show you is my dragon costume for cats. Actually, it’s a dog costume but they are mostly interchangeable. It could also be a dinosaur…the only limit is your imagination (and Photoshop skills :P).

Look at those floofy feets!

My Cat Dragon/Dinosaur Costume Review

I was surprised at how good quality this costume was (it’s this one btw). The material feels like velvet or velour…think Juicy Couture loungewear but with dragon spikes!

The tummy and leg regions are elasticated to make it easy to put on and take off. It’s also machine-washable which is a bonus.

It’s really important to measure your cat if you’re buying a costume for him/her. My boy actually needed an XL, even though it’s a dog costume and dogs are generally bigger than cats. You’ll need to measure the length from neck to the base of the tail, the chest (around the tummy) and the neck. These are the sizes for this particular costume:

Size

Back

Chest

Neck

XS

7.2

10.4

6.5

S

8.8

12

8

M

10.4

13.5

9.7

L

12

16.7

10.8

XL

13.5

18.3

12

Of course it’s better to size up rather than get a costume that’s too small. This will be uncomfortable for your pet and could even hurt him.

See, he loves it!

Cat Costume Safety Points

Although this photoshoot was fun for both me and Poki, I must finish up with some safety points for dressing up your cat. You know your cat best and if he is anxious or doesn’t like attention, do not attempt to dress him up. I know you want that Instagram perfect photo set but it’s not worth stressing your cat out or hurting him for. Here are some other important points:

Never leave your cat unsupervised when he’s wearing a costume. The fabric can get caught on furniture and trap/injure your pet.

Following on from the above, don’t let your cat wear a costume outside unless you’re sure he won’t run away. Costumes can easily get caught on trees or fences.

Don’t leave the costume on for more than a few minutes. Your cat’s patience will wear out or he will end up making a mess by using the litter tray while wearing the costume.

If the costume has fluffy parts, your cat may try to eat them. Again, this is why you need to watch him the whole time.

Avoid costumes which cover your cat’s head or obscure their vision. This can lead to accidents and cats generally don’t like having their heads covered.

I've owned cats my whole life and now we have two. Saus (short for Sausage!) is a female lilac-point British Shorthair and Poki is a male tabby Siberian Forest cat. Hearing from readers makes my day so please drop me a comment or email about anything cat-related (or just to say hi!).